Feb 15. 7 mi. S Ranger in deciduous oaks of area at base of hill to E. I followed them up on to rocky, liveoak-dotted slope and back down to base. I fired at each twice without apparent injury to either. (Visibility poor my aim worse). I worked down to the N bank of the hcm, then W and N at base of hill to W. I located a pair of thrice in S edge of large group of root oak and fired at one twice with .38 S - no damage. I worked S chasing Melanepes erythrocephalus, then N. I located one pair having vocal exchange with pair to S (one I had fired at) and later, birds to N. I took one bird (F, 729), then chased N, S, N, then watched pair to S, never finding mate of 729 to take him. Working back N, I followed a lone bird, probably the mate of 729 and took it eventually (M, 730). Mate relation- ship somewhat tense. Working N past the truck I encountered a pair which had eluded me earlier. I followed their birds, which were screolding me. Eventually I fired at one which flew toward the road, mounting into the air to tree-top height, then glided in an arc to S, falling to the ground. I followed its mate, missed a close shot with the .38 near the creek and followed bird back to woods where I taken. It scolded and crossed over my position, then flew back again across over my head into oak ton